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Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
NASAMS Order Egypt's Latest Step To Diversify Air Defense
A NASAMS surface-to-air missile launcher is seen during production at the assembly line of the ... More Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace weapons factory in Kongsberg, Norway on January 30, 2023. (Photo by Petter BERNTSEN / AFP) (Photo by PETTER BERNTSEN/AFP via Getty Images) In another significant acquisition, Egypt has requested a foreign military sale of the medium-range National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System from the United States, in a deal with an estimated value of $4.67 billion. Coming shortly after it reportedly received the strategic HQ-9B system from China, the order is the latest example of Egypt building a highly diverse air defense arsenal. The State Department's Defense Security Cooperation Agency revealed the order in a press release on Thursday. The statement noted that the package includes four AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar systems and hundreds of surface-launched AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles that the system fires. The provision of these particular missiles is noteworthy, as Egypt had attempted for decades to acquire the AIM-120 for its F-16 fighter jets. The lack of AIM-120s severely curtailed the air defense capability of those aircraft, which is why Egypt sought fighter jets elsewhere, including the Su-35 from Russia. Thursday's DSCA release also noted that the NASAMS 'will improve Egypt's capability to meet current and future threats by improving its ability to detect various air threats.' NASAMS would reinforce the mid-tier of Egypt's air defense. The proposed sale comes less than a year after Cairo displayed the IRIS-T, specifically IRIS-T SL and IRIS-T SLEX, systems it acquired from Germany for the first time. These systems could significantly enhance Egypt's capability to detect and intercept various short- to medium-range aerial threats. Another significant aspect of the NASAMS sale is its timing, as it may mark the first significant air defense acquisition Cairo requested from the United States in approximately 15 years. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's extensive arms transfers database, the last air defense systems Cairo received from Washington were short-range AN/TWQ-1 Avenger systems, which fire FIM-92 Stinger missiles, in 2008. Valued at $50 million, that deal was insignificant compared to the estimated $4.67 billion Egypt is expected to pay for these much more sophisticated NASAMS. In the past, the U.S. also sold Egypt secondhand, modernized medium-range MIM-23 Hawks, also known as the I-HAWK 'Improved HAWK' system, and short-range M48 Chaparrals, which fire a surface-launched variant of the short-range AIM-9 Sidewinder known as the MIM-72. Notably, these provisions all consisted of short- to medium-range systems and lacked any strategic systems. Interestingly, in 1999, U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen announced several multi-billion-dollar arms deals to the Middle East, which included a Patriot PAC-3 missile system, then still under development, for Egypt. There's no indication Cairo received that advanced variant of the Patriot, which incorporates hit-to-kill technology against ballistic missiles. Three years after Cohen's announcement, the U.S. reportedly reached an understanding with Israel not to supply Egypt with F-15 fighter jets to ensure Israel's qualitative military edge wasn't challenged. Therefore, Patriot systems, especially the cutting-edge PAC-3s, were probably off the table by then as well. Following the July 2013 coup against a short-lived Muslim Brotherhood government and the rise to power of incumbent President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi, the U.S. occasionally withheld military aid and arms sales over human rights violations in Egypt. Consequently, in the 2010s, Egypt turned to other suppliers for weapons, purchasing Dassault Rafale fighter jets from France and MiG-29M/M2s from Russia. During the 2010s, Egypt also received more Russian air defense systems than at any other time since it was a major Soviet arms buyer from the 1950s until the early 1970s, including strategic air defenses. It began with orders for short-range S-125 Pechora-2M, Tor-M1, and Buk-M2 systems, all of which Cairo received by the middle of the decade. Then, in 2014-15, Cairo went a step further with a multi-million-dollar deal for three advanced long-range Russian S-300VM strategic air defense missile systems, the Russian equivalent of the Patriot. While the 2010s arguably marked a brief honeymoon period for Russia-Egypt arms sales, the 2020s already look a lot different. Egypt is widely believed to have recently purchased the HQ-9B or FD-2000B as its export variant is known, from China. The system is Beijing's equivalent of the S-300. Coupled with the S-300VM, the reported acquisition of the HQ-9B/FD-2000B gives Egypt two air defense systems that are among the most advanced non-Western strategic systems currently available on the global arms export market. However, unlike the Patriot PAC-3 and S-300, the latter of which recently suffered devastating losses during Israeli airstrikes on Iran, that Chinese system hasn't been combat-tested. Such an acquisition is consistent with Cairo's tradition of diversifying its military arsenal. And air defenses are certainly no exception to that tradition. If anything, ordering NASAMS so soon after the HQ-9B/FD-2000B could signal Egypt seeks to remain an American arms client, once that doesn't preclude it buying weapons elsewhere. After all, aside from fulfilling its diversification policy, one reason Egypt has turned to China and Russia was to acquire the types of systems Washington refuses to sell it. Egypt's growing military ties with China have already raised eyebrows in Washington, particularly the unprecedented joint air force exercise hosted on Egyptian soil in April and May 2025. Consequently, there have been renewed calls to reassess annual American military aid to Cairo. It's conceivable that Cairo may have requested NASAMS now in an attempt to mitigate growing concerns over its military ties with Beijing. Of course, whether or not that will work is anybody's guess.
L'Orient-Le Jour
6 days ago
- Business
- L'Orient-Le Jour
US approves $4.67 bn sale of air defense system to Egypt
The United States on Thursday announced the approval of a $4.67 billion sale of the NASAMS air defense system and related support to Egypt. NASAMS — the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System — has seen recent use on the battlefield after being provided to Ukraine by Kyiv's supporters as part of efforts to bolster the country's air defenses against Russian attacks. "The proposed sale will improve Egypt's capability to meet current and future threats by improving its ability to detect various air threats," the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement. The deal also "will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East," DSCA said. The State Department approved the possible sale of the system to Egypt and the DSCA provided the required notification to the U.S. Congress, which still needs to sign off on the transaction.
Nahar Net
7 days ago
- Business
- Nahar Net
US approves $322 million in arms sales to Ukraine
The United States on Wednesday announced the approval of $322 million in arms sales to bolster Ukraine's air defenses and its armored combat vehicles. The announcement of the sales comes after Washington temporarily halted some weapons shipments to Ukraine earlier this month even as Kyiv faced heavy Russian missile and drone attacks. The sale of HAWK air defense equipment and sustainment will cost up to $172 million, while Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle equipment and services will total up to $150 million, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said. The proposed HAWK equipment sale "will improve Ukraine's capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust air defense capability," DSCA said. And the Bradley equipment and services will help meet Ukraine's "urgent need to strengthen local sustainment capabilities to maintain high operational rates for United States provided vehicles and weapon systems," it said. The State Department approved the possible sales and the DSCA provided the required notification to the US Congress, which still needs to sign off on the transactions. The latest proposed military sale to Ukraine follows another announced in early May valued at $310.5 million for F-16 training and sustainment. Russia's President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in 2022 and has shown little willingness to end the conflict despite pressure from the United States. Under former president Joe Biden, Washington committed to providing more than $65 billion in military assistance to Ukraine. But President Donald Trump -- long skeptical of assistance for Ukraine -- has not followed suit, announcing no new military aid packages for Kyiv since he returned to office in January.
Daily Express
24-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
US approves $322 million arms sale to Ukraine for air defense
Published on: Thursday, July 24, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 24, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: This sale will improve Ukraine's capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust air defense capability. - AP Pic / Evgeniy Maloletka. WASHINGTON: The United States has approved $322 million in arms sales to Ukraine to strengthen its air defenses and armored combat capabilities. The decision comes after a temporary pause in some weapons shipments earlier this month, even as Kyiv faced intensified Russian missile and drone strikes. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) confirmed the sale includes HAWK air defense equipment worth up to $172 million and Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle support valued at $150 million. 'This sale will improve Ukraine's capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust air defense capability,' the DSCA stated. The Bradley equipment aims to address Ukraine's 'urgent need to strengthen local sustainment capabilities to maintain high operational rates for United States provided vehicles and weapon systems.' The State Department has approved the potential sales, with the DSCA notifying Congress, which must still authorize the transactions. This latest military aid follows a $310.5 million package announced in May for F-16 training and sustainment. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, the US has committed over $65 billion in military assistance under former President Joe Biden. However, current President Donald Trump, historically skeptical of Ukraine aid, has not announced new support packages since taking office in January. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
24-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
US approves $322 million arms sale to Ukraine for air defense
WASHINGTON: The United States has approved $322 million in arms sales to Ukraine to strengthen its air defenses and armored combat capabilities. The decision comes after a temporary pause in some weapons shipments earlier this month, even as Kyiv faced intensified Russian missile and drone strikes. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) confirmed the sale includes HAWK air defense equipment worth up to $172 million and Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle support valued at $150 million. 'This sale will improve Ukraine's capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust air defense capability,' the DSCA stated. The Bradley equipment aims to address Ukraine's 'urgent need to strengthen local sustainment capabilities to maintain high operational rates for United States provided vehicles and weapon systems.' The State Department has approved the potential sales, with the DSCA notifying Congress, which must still authorize the transactions. This latest military aid follows a $310.5 million package announced in May for F-16 training and sustainment. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, the US has committed over $65 billion in military assistance under former President Joe Biden. However, current President Donald Trump, historically skeptical of Ukraine aid, has not announced new support packages since taking office in January. - AFP
